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7 steps to successful straightening

Hot hairdressing talent Leo Bancroft, offers a few tips on how to straighten your hair for maximum effect

1. Always spray on a heat protection product before you go near your hair with straightening irons. It helps protect from damage and gives a great shiny finish that lasts.
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2. I think dividing hair into sections works best when straightening. Start with the underneath layers and work upwards.
3. Run the irons gently down the lengths, not too quickly as you can damage hair, but not so slowly that the heat is held on one place for too long. You're aiming for a nice even finish so it's better to get it right with one sweep rather than running the irons over and over the hair.
4. Adjust the temperature of your straightening irons to suit your hair type. Fine hair doesn't necessarily need 220 degrees to get a good result whereas thick hair tends to need the higher temperatures to set the style in place.
5. Wipe any product build-up off your straightening irons from time to time, when turned off and cool.
6. When styling very thick hair, you'll benefit from combing the lengths thoroughly before running the irons over.
7. Use straighteners to create more than just poker-straight styles. Tilt the irons when you get to the ends of your hair to flick it out or smooth it under. This works really well on this autumn's bob to give it a different edge, depending on the occasion.

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